Chair



. June 13, 1944. M K ORTON 2,351,283

CHAIR Filed Dec. 1e, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 1 June 13, 1944. M. K. voRToNCHAIR 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1940 M. K. ORTON June 13, 1944.

CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet .'5

Filed Dec. 16, 1940 M. K. ORTON Jue 13, 1944.

CHAIR Filed Dec. 16, 19.40 4 sheets-sheet 4 @43 am( mi SHIV/wegd-Patented June 13, 1944 CHAIR.

Merritt K. Orton, vGrand Rapida, Mich., assignor to American SeatingCompany, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationDecemberl, 1940; Serial No. 370,365

(Cl. y155-115) 110 Claims.

The present invention relates to chairs and more particularly to thoseof the so-called opera type.

The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide a chair ofthe general character above indicated having a seat which is rearwardlymovable on a substantially horizontal plane for a limited' distance;l toprovide such a chair whose seat is upwardly tiltable as well' asrearwardly horizontally movable; to provide such a chair whose back isso connected with the seat that a rearward' movement of the seat effectsa slight forward movement of the upper end of the back and a slightrearward movement of the bottom end thereof; to provide such a chairwhich when installed as one in a plurality of rows of like chairs andwhich when occupied provides for ready and convenient egress from andingress to unoccupied seats in the same row without seriously disturbingthe occupant of such an occupied chair or the occupant of a chairimmediately rearwardly of such occupied chair; and, to provide such achair which is comfortable and convenient in use, relatively simple inmechanical construction and reasonably economical in manufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side. elevational View of the chair with its seat and backin their respective positions of normal occupancy of. the chair;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the chai-r similar to that ofFigure 1 but showing its seat and back when moved by the occupantthereof to their respective positions in instances wherein aperson seeksingress to or egress from another chair in, the sam-e row of chairs andpast such occupied chair;

Figure.` 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevationalview of thechair, partly in section, and showing its. seat and back in theirrespective positions of normal occupancy of the chair; y

Figure is a sectional `view thereof on line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6, is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view ofthe chair,partly in section, and similar to that of Figure 4 but showing its seatand back when` moved by the occupant thereof to their respectivepositions in instances wherein a person seeks ingress to orl egress fromanother chair in the same row of chairs'and past such occi-ipiedchair;`t

I on the equalizing strut or rod`2 I. A

Figure 7 is a sectional View thereof on line 'I-1 Figure 10 is asectional view on line Ill-I0 of Figure 4; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view on line II-II of Figure 4.

Referring then to the drawings wherein like parts of the structure shownare designated by the same numerals in the several views, the chairthere illustrated comprises a pair of spaced vertically disposedstandards I0, each provided with an arm rest II secured to its upper endin any suitable fashion and in any convenient manner.

Each standard I0 is provided adjacent its lower forward end with asleeve I2 projecting laterally from its inner surface and an upwardlyextending arm I3 is pivotally secured at its lower end by means of apivot pin I4 embraced within each sleeve I2.

The upper end of each arm I3 is pivotally secured to the forward end ofa generally triangularly formed bracket I5 between which pair ofbrackets the upholstered chair back I6 is secured and a strut I'I, hereshown as tubular in form, is interposedbetween the arms I3 to form anequalizer and which strut likewise provides for structural rigidity.

A pair of generally horizontally disposed links I8, each pivotallyconnected adjacent its rear end to a back' supporting bracket I5rearwardly of the pivotal connection of an upwardly extending arm I3with its bracket I5, are each pivotally connected adjacent its forwardend to a link I9 whose other end is pivotally connected to its adjacentarm I3 below the pivotal connection of said arm with the back supportingbracket I5.

A pair of upwardly extending links 29, each pivotally connected at itslower end to the inner surface of a standard I, are each pivotallyconnected at its upper end adjacent the upper end of' a back supportingbracket I5. An equalizing strut 2| interposed between the pair of linksI8 intermediate the ends of each link and here shown as tubular in formsupports an upholstered seat 22 pivotally mounted thereon for upwardlytilting movement betweenv each vertically disv posed standard I0. Theseat 22 is provided. with a bracket IDU adapted to engage thewlink i8"to check the forward pivotal movement of the seat A stop 23 is mountedon the inner surface of each standard Ill whose rearward end 24 engagesa link 20 when the seat 22 is in its normal forward position ofoccupancy as shown in Figure 4 whereas the forward end 25 of each stopengages an arm I3 in instances wherein the seat 22 is moved rearwardlyby the occupant thereof as shown in Figure 6. Y

Since each"link I8 is disposed substantially horizontally in itspivotally connected relation to the seat 22 and since each link 2l) isslightly swingable forwardly-rearwardly about its lower pivotalconnection, all as best shown inliigures 4 and 6, the seat 22 and backIB are eachvforwardly-rearwardly movable to provide ready and convenientegress from and ingress to unoccupied seats in the same row withoutseriously disturbing the occupant of such a chair or the occupant of achair immediately rearwardly of such occupied chair. i. f v f It willthus be seen that the chairklheyrein shown and described is comfortablein use,is relatively simple in mechanical construction and is reasonablyeconomicalin manufacture, and While but one specific embodiment of theinvention has been herein shown and described, it will be-understoodthat certain details of the construction' shown may be alteredor'omittedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as the same I isdefined by thefollowing claims.v

I claim: l Y 1 e l. A chair comprising a pair of spaced verticallydisposed standards; a chair back interposed between the standardswhoseopposite sides are each provided witha forwardly extending portion;a pair of upwardly extending arms, each pivotally connected at its lowerend toa standard andreach pivotally connected at its upper end to aforwardly extending portion of the chair back; a pair ofupwardly-extending links disposed rearwardly of the upwardly extendingarms, each pivotally connected at its lower :end to a standard and eachpivotally connected at its upper end to a side kof the chair back; apair of toggles, each having one of vits links pivotally connected to aside of the chair back below the pivotal connection of an upwardlyextending 'arm and each having its other-link pivotally connected to anupwardly extending-arm; a strut interposed between like links ofthetoggle; and a seat supported on the strut. Y

r2. A chair comprising' a pair4 of spaced vertically disposed standards;',a chair backiinterposed between the standards whose opposite'sides areeach provided with a forwardly vextending portion; ,a pair of upwardlyextending arms,

extending arm and each having its other link pivotally connectedvrto anupwardly extending arm; a strut interposed v,between like links of thetoggle; and a seat tiltably supported on Athe strut.

tically disposed standards; a ,chair back inter- 3. A chair -comprisingapairofspaced ver.

posed between the 'standards whose opposite sides 75 are each providedwith a forwardly extending portion; a pair of upwardly extending arms,each pivotally connected at its lower end to a standard and eachpivotally connected at its upper end to a forwardly extending portion ofthe chair back; a pair of upwardly extending links disposed rearwardlyof the upwardly extending arms, each pivotally connected at its lowerend to astandard and each pivotally connected at its upper end to a sideof the chair back; a pair of toggles, each having one of its linkspivotally connected to a side of the chair back below the pivotalconnection of an upwardly extending arm and each having its other linkpivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm; a strut interposedbetween like links of the toggle; a seat supported on the strut; and astop interposed between each upwardly extending arm and each upwardlyextending link adapted to engage an arm or a link for limiting theforward-rearward movement of the seat and back. i

4. A chair comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed standards; achair back interposed between the standards whose opposite sides areeach provided with a forwardly extending portion; a pair ofupwardlyextending arms, each pivotally connected at its lower end to astandard and each pivotally connected' atits upper end to a forwardlyextending portion yof the chair back; a pair of upwardly extending linksdisposed rearwardly ofthe ,upwardlyy extending arms, each pivotallyconnected at'its lower end to a standard and each pivotally connected atits upper end to aside of the chair back; a pair of toggles, each havingvone of its links pivotally connected to a side of the chair back belowthe pivotal connection of an upwardly extending arm and each having itsA,other link pivotally connected to an upwardly .extending arm; a strutinterposed between like links :of the toggle; a seat tiltably supportedon the, strut; and a stop interposed betweenveach upwardly vextendingarm and each vupwardly .extending link adapted to engage an arm or a'linkfor limiting ltinekforwarol-rearward movement of the seat and 5. Achair comprising a] pair of spaced vertically disposed standards; achair back interposed between th'e standards whose opposite sides areeach provided with a forwardly extending portion; a'pair of upwardlyextending arms, each pivotally connected at its lower end to a standardand each pivotally connected at its upper end to a forwardly extendingportion of the chair back; an equalizing strut interposedrbetween theupwardly extending arms; a pair of upwardly extending links disposedrearwardly of the upwardly extending arms, each pivotally connected atits lower end to a standard and each pivotally connected at its upperend to a sideof the chair back; a pair of toggles, each having one ofits links pivotally connected to a side of the chair back below thepivotal connection of an upwardly extending arm and each having itsother link pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm; a strutinterposed between like linksv of the toggle; and a seat supported onthe strut.

6. A chair comprising a pair of spaced verti-` back; an equalizing strutinterposed between the upwardly extending arms; a pair of upwardlyextending links disposed rearwardly of the upwardly extending arms, eachpivotally connected at its lower end to a standard and each pivotallyconnected at its upper end to a side of the chair back; a pair oftoggles, each having one of its links pivotally connected to a side ofthe chair back below the pivotal connection of an upwardly extending armand each having its other link pivotally connected to an upwardlyextending arm; a strut interposed between like links of the toggle; anda seat tiltably supported on the strut.

7. A chair comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed standards; achair back interposed between the standards whose opposite sides areeach provided with a forwardly extending portion; a pair of upwardlyextending arms, each pivotally connected at its lower end to a standardand each pivotally connected at its upper end to a forwardly extendingportion of the chair back; an equalizing strut interposed between theupwardly extending arms; a pair of upwardly extending links disposedrearwardly of the upwardly extending arms, each pivotally connected atits lower end to a standard and each pivotally connected at its upperend to a side of the chair back; a pair of toggles, each having one ofits links pivotally connected to a side of the chair back below thepivotal connection of an upwardly extending arm and each having itsother link pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm; a strutinterposed between like links of the toggle; a seat supported on thestrut; and a stop interposed between each upwardly extending arm andeach upwardly extending link adapted to engage an arm or a link forlimiting the forwardrearward movement of the seat and back.

8. A chair comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed standards; achair back interposed between the standards whose opposite sides areeach provided with a forwardly extending portion; a pair of upwardlyextending arms, each pivotally connected at its lower end to a standardand each pivotally connected at its upper end to a forwardly extendingportion of the chair back; an equalizing strut interposed between theupwardly extending arms; a pair of upwardly extending links disposedrearwardly of the upwardly extending arms, each pivotally connected atits lower end to a standard and each pivotally connected at its upperend to a side of the chair back; a pair of toggles, each having one ofits links pivotally connected to a side of the chair back below thepivotal connection of an upwardly extending arm and each having itsother link pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm; a strutinterposed between like links of the toggle; a seat tiltably supportedon the strut; and a stop interposed between each upwardly extending armand each upwardly extending link adapted to engage an arm or a link forlimiting the forward-rearward movement of the seat and back.

9. A chair comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed standards; achair back interposed between the standards whose opposite sides areeach provided with a forwardly extending portion; a pair of upwardlyextending arms, each pivotally connected at its lower end to a standardand each pivotally connected at its upper end to a forwardly extendingportion of the chair back; a pair of upwardly extending links disposedrearwardly of the upwardly extending arms, each pivotally connected atits lower end to a standard and each pivotally connected at its upperend to a side oi the chair back; a pair of toggles, each having one ofits links pivotally connected to a side of the chair back and eachhaving its other link pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm;a strut interposed between like links of each toggle; and a seatsupported on the strut.

10. A chair comprising a pair of spaced vertically disposed standards; achair back interposed between the standards whose opposite sides areeach provided with a forwardly extending portion; a pair of upwardlyextending arms, each pivotally connected at itslower end to a standardand each pivotally connected at its upper end to a forwardly extendingportion of the chair back; a pair of upwardly extending links disposedrearwardly of the upwardly extending arms, each pivotally connected atits lower end to a standard and each pivotally connected at its upperend to a side of the chair back; a pair of toggles, each having one ofits links pivotally connected to a side of the chair back and eachhaving its other link pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm;a strut interposed between like links of each toggle; and a seatinterposed between like links of each toggle.

MERRI'IT K. ORTON.

